little chief

Carol Jarvis spent decades making other people sound incredible – now she’s doing it for herself. “I Want You To Stay” marks her transition from session player to solo artist, and the woman who’s toured with everyone from Rod Stewart to Ellie Goulding clearly learned a thing or two along the way. The electronic foundation …

This Leeds producer has been busy. Between raising two kids and holding down a day job, Zodiak somehow found time to cook up a proper dance banger in his bedroom. The man only started messing around with FL Studio in February after watching an Avicii documentary, which makes this track even more impressive. “Show Me …

Verticoli knows how to write about the messy bits of relationships without getting dramatic about it. Their new single tackles that awkward situation where you genuinely care about someone but can’t make things work, not because of some big blowout, but because life just gets in the way. The Tom Petty influence is obvious from …

Sophia Bolinder and John Soul are back with their third team-up, and honestly, they keep getting better at this, and I don’t think this is the last time they work together. The Swedish pair recorded this one in Falkenberg, and you can tell they were having fun in the studio. Your playlist needs this track. …

Ki To just dropped a track that sounds like it belongs in your favorite anime opening sequence. This San Francisco artist teamed up with producer Delorians to make something that sits perfectly between a breakup song and a victory lap. The whole thing builds slowly before hitting you with a chorus that sticks around long …

MrZnote just released “Boathouse Row” and honestly, it caught me off guard. The Philadelphia rapper sounds fed up with trying to please everyone, and that frustration comes through in every line. You can tell this guy grew up on Eminem and DMX – there’s that same willingness to get messy with his emotions. But he’s …

GatiS just dropped an instrumental that hits you right in the feels without trying too hard. This preview of his upcoming vocal track “Remember Me” comes straight from his home studio in Sigulda, and honestly, it shows in the best way possible. The whole thing centers around memory and the people who’ve moved on from …

James Ollier gets it. His new single feels like he’s been through some stuff and came out the other side with stories worth telling. The London musician doesn’t overcomplicate things, just him, his guitar, piano, and thoughts that probably keep him up at night. Working with Brett Shaw at 123 Studios was smart. Shaw handles …

Le Concorde keeps getting better at this sophistipop thing. With Calum Malcolm behind the boards again, “Morning By Morning” pulls from the same talent pool that made “Saint James” work so well. You’ve got Roger Joseph Manning Jr. doing his keyboard wizardry, Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow adding those Posies harmonies, plus the solid rhythm …

Phoenix rockers Jane N’ The Jungle aren’t here to whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Their new single “Parasite” grabs you by the collar and forces you to look at how we’re all getting a little too cozy with artificial intelligence. Jordan White’s voice has enough power to wake the dead, and Brian Dellis backs …

Shyfrin Alliance keeps exploring their philosophical side with “Colours of Time”, and they’re getting better at making you think while you listen. Eduard Shyfrin and the band have put together something that sits between classic prog and their own take on big questions about existence. The song revolves around the idea that time isn’t just …

Peter Xifaras decided to mix jazz with classical music, and against all odds, it actually works. He’s got Justin Chart on saxophone and the Budapest Symphony backing him up across six tracks that shouldn’t fit together but do. “Adagio Blue” kicks things off with some serious orchestral weight before Chart’s sax slides in. The real …

Proklaim just dropped some serious heat from Windhoek, and I wasn’t ready for this combination. This Namibian artist mixed boom bap with Amapiano, which sounds crazy on paper but actually slaps. The track starts aggressive and stays that way throughout. Proklaim jumps between rapping and singing like he’s been doing it forever. Both styles fit …

Matreya’s back with his second single, and honestly, it hits hard. The Birmingham singer-songwriter doesn’t mess around here, he’s talking about depression, healing, and having to let parts of yourself die to move forward. Heavy stuff, but he handles it well. The song builds around this driving drumbeat that feels almost primal, with these floating …

Mary Beth Orr decided to make a 26-track album combining French horn and vocals, and honestly, it works better than you’d expect. The Grand Rapids Symphony hornist clearly spent time figuring out how to make these two elements talk to each other instead of competing for space. Mary covers everything from “I’ll Fly Away” to …

Larry Karpenko’s latest single kicks off with a beat that hits like a steady drumbeat – raw and purposeful, setting up everything that follows. The chorus is catchy without trying too hard, the kind of melody you find yourself humming later without realizing it. He clearly wanted people to be able to sing along, and …

Daddy Drwg’s gone and made himself a proper troublemaker with “Wise Guys”. The Welsh songwriter isn’t messing around, he’s calling out every guy who thinks his opinion is gospel while barely knowing how to tie his own shoes. That whistled bit at the start? Pure genius. Gets stuck in your head while Daddy Drwg tears …

Michellar just dropped her first Spanish song and it’s pretty solid. The San Francisco artist teamed up with Jiji Picazo on vocals and Lloyd Miller producing, pulling inspiration from “Bésame Mucho” – you can hear those classic Latin vibes running through it. The whole thing centers around how one amazing night with someone can stick …